Artistic Director

Tyrone BrooksArtistic Director

Tyrone Brooks joined The Tallahassee Ballet as the Artistic Director in the 2013-2014 season. Brooks has a wide-range of professional experience including 18 years as a Principal Dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City (DTH). Brooks has been featured in a number of acclaimed performances including Alvin Ailey’s The River, Eugen Loring’s Billy the Kid, Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, Michael Smuins’ A Song for Dead Warriors, Medea, and John Butler’s Othello. Brooks has also performed internationally in Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Japan, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela, South Africa, and Russia. Additionally, Brooks has been featured in performances by celebrated choreographers George Balanchine, Agnes DeMille, Geoffrey Holder, Garth Fagan, Jerome Robbins, Alonzo King, John Butler, John McFall, Robert North, John Taras, Billy Wilson, and DTH Founder and Artistic Director Arthur Mitchell.

In 1984, Brooks was nominated for the Dancers Choice Award in London for his performance as Alan Strange in Equus. Brooks’ work has also been in a number of television features including the NBC presentation of Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Creole Giselle, the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics, the PBS series Dance in America, CBS 60 Minutes with Ed Bradley featuring DTH, the PBS presentation of Live at the Kennedy Center The Making of Firebird, and the 1993 Kennedy Center Honors. Brooks also choreographed Black Explosion for the 2004 televised production of the Trumpet Awards.

In addition to his experience as a Principal Dancer and performer, Brooks has accumulated extensive experience as a dance faculty member and administrator. For over 25 years, Brooks served as full-time Ballet Faculty at DTH. During that time he also served as the Associate Director of the DTH community outreach program, Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble. As Associate Director, Brooks represented DTH as a teaching artist in New York City Public Schools and commenced professional development workshops for teachers in curriculum development. He also conducted master classes and outreach programs in South Florida and for the Dance Theatre of Harlem-Kennedy Center Residency in Washington, D.C. and the Northern Virginia region.
Mr. Brooks has also taught at the various institutions; Hofstra University , Mary Mount Manhattan College, Florida State University School of Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New World School of the Arts, Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, Flint Institute of Music- Flint Youth Ballet, Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Wheaton College.

In 2004, Brooks joined the Virginia School of the Arts as the Director of Community Dance and was subsequently appointed as the Executive Director of the Virginia School of the Arts by the Board of Directors. During his tenure at the Virginia School of the Arts, Brooks became an active member of the Lynchburg community and developed community partnerships with Opera on the James, The Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and the E.C.C. Glass High School Theatre Department. Brooks’ community engagement extended to his service on the advisory panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts Tour and Performing Arts Directory, James River Diversity Council, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the James River Council for the Arts and Humanities and
The Florida Division for the Individual Artist Fellowship panel.

Mr. Brooks has a Certificate in Advanced Business Administration from Lynchburg College and was a Visiting Artist for the Florida State University School of Dance. Mr. Brooks serves on the Florida State University Friends of Dance Board of Directors and was recently inducted into the ( MOBB) Museum of Blacks in Ballet.

The Tallahassee Ballet is a regional, nonprofit dance company featuring a diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary ballet performed by both professional and emerging professional dancers. The Tallahassee Ballet promotes appreciation of the dance arts through annual productions, education, and community outreach. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.